Claxton Paces Brooklyn In Win Over Thunder
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Richard Jean
Spencer Dinwiddie and Nic Claxton scored 23 points a piece, and the Brooklyn Net survived a furious second half rally by the Oklahoma City Thunder, winning 124-115 last Friday night, January 5, at Barclays Center. With the victory, the Nets secured their first win of 2024, snapping a five game losing streak and exacted revenge against a Thunder team, currently with the fourth best record in the league, that defeated them by 16 on New Years Eve in Oklahoma. Brooklyn took a commanding 75-47 lead at halftime behind 55.3% from FG range and 30 points from the bench, led by Cam Thomas, who scored 16 of his 19 points in the first 24 minutes. The Thunder trailed by as many as 32 in the second, but Shai Gilgeous Alexander, leading all scorers with 34 points, scored 22 in the second half for Oklahoma as they outscored Brooklyn 68-49. The Thunder cut the deficit down to six with 27.1 seconds left in regulation, but the Nets made their final five free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
